The Basic Mechanics of CID: Coppers In Disguise are little changed from the History Farce games that preceded them.

Well that’s not quite true: CID introduces a new concept to the very simple 1d6 roll off system that was devised way back in the Winter of 2011 and became a key part of the Whore’s Blade Wargames System.

CID is the first game where spending one of the two Virtues or Resource points allows you to re-roll dice rolls involving an associated statistic.

Ego: Represents a Copper’s determination to get shit done regardless of the outcome. It is tied to the Bad Cop Statistics of Instinct, Sleaze and Violence.

Discipline: Represents a Copper’s discretion and ability to keep a clear head and stick to the rules. It is tied to the Good Cop Statistics of Brains, Humanity and Grit.

Clichés can refuel these Virtues as can the Super as a reward for good play. Save up enough Virtues and you can attempt to learn new tricks and get new gear as described in Experience and Equipment.

Clichés have their own Chapter: Why? Because they are what gives Coppers distinct thematic advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore when they come into play these Clichés refuel the Copper’s Virtues.

Virtues can be spent on Re-rolls and invested in Advancements to the Character and Equipment. This allows Players to have a bit of fun with the whims of fate in a manner that suits the over dramatic action of the genre.

With the History Farce system at it’s core CID: Coppers In Disguise has a relatively straight-forward Character Creation system for both new players and those who’ve dabbled in the mess of Georgian England.

Having said this the very team orientated nature of the setting has forced a more Co-Operative Character Creation Process in which Players are required to work together to establish their place in the Team. It is very likely that some Coppers will begin play at a more effective ability level than others but this is balanced out by extra Flex and the Drawbacks of more Clichés.

Clichés are kind of like ready made Merit-Flaw (or Strength-Weakness) packages that also contribute Virtue points when they help or hinder.

In addition the system has been further enhanced with the division of Statistics into Good Cop and Bad Cop with mechanical bonuses available to those who emphasise one over the other with a direct impact on the spendable Virtue Points that provide a heroic edge for Player Characters.

The Background Chapter of CID: Coppers In Disguise contains a brief history of both the real British Police Forces and the development of British Detective Drama to its modern levels of over saturation and self parody.

Furthermore there is an extensive list of recommended viewing to give those without a grounding in the British Detective Genre an idea of what Coppers are like in the world of CID. Whether you want to play it straight in the vein of Inspector Morse or Vera or go batshit insane like Luther or Midsomer Murders this chapter gives you what you need to know to get started.

CID: Coppers In Disguise is the first of the Random Insane Side Project games that aim to take Tabletop Roleplaying to very odd (if not unique) places. With the basic mechanics of the History Farce system powering them they shall endeavour to emulate some rather strange genres.

My British fans will be very aware that the majority of our Television Dramas are based around Police Detectives. The format is cheap and can be relied on to succeed even if the show is so full of clichés that nobody takes it seriously. CID: Coppers In Disguise casts your Gaming Group as a bunch of maladjusted plain clothes Coppers working out how to solve the case whilst keeping their noses clean and hoping against hope that what little personal life they have doesn’t come crashing down around them.

American fans of course have the novelty of playing a Police Officer who isn’t a trigger happy knuckle dragger weighed down by unnecessary heavy weaponry. Hell most characters don’t even have guns: Imagine that!